Improvement in wagon-tops



2 SheetsSheet 1. R. W. THOMPSON.

Wagon-Top.

No. 201,367. Patented March 19, 1878.

2 Sheets8heet 2. R. W. THOMPSON,

Wagon-Top. No. 201,367. Patented March '9, I878.

Fig.8.

wfimesses INHSMAYW UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFIoE.

ROBERT W. THOMPSON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN WAGON-TOPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,367, dated March19, 1878 application filed February 4, 1878.

To all whom it'may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT W. THOMPSON, of Cleveland, in the county ofOuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and ImprovedWagon Top and Cover; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and complete description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, making a part of the same.

Figure 1 is a side view of a wagon-body to which the adjustable anddetachable top is applied. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.

The other figures show the various changes and modifications of whichthe top is susceptible.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views.

The adjustable top above referred to consists of a series of short bowsattached by a hinged joint to diagonal braces. The lower ends of saidbraces are hinged to a central bow, and their upper ends are,respectively, hinged to a front and rear bow, which, together with thecentral bow and other parts above specified, constitute a frame whereonto spread and secure the canvas or other suitable material for a cover.The top, being adjustable, can be easily and readily applied either to awagon, buggy, sleigh, or sled, so as to cover the entire body, orpartially so, as may be desirable.

A detailed description of the frame referred to will be found asfollows:

In the drawings, A represents a body of a wagon, to which the aforesaidframe is attached, mainly by the middle bow B, by insertin g the endsthereof in eyes or staples O, and which is retained therein by pins D.To the bow B are hinged the lower ends of the diagonal braces E bystraps or plates F, as shown in Fig. 1, or by other suitable devices.The upper ends of said braces are respectively hinged to the bows GrandH. The ends of said bows are, in like manner as the bow B, secured tothe sides of the body A by staples a. The intermediate or short bows Iand J are hinged to the diagonal braces E, which are retained in properrelation to the bows G H by a flexible stretcher, K, Fig. 1. Thisjointed connection of the several parts of the frame to each otherallows of its being compressed together more or less, that it may beadapted to a full or a partial covering to the vehicle. In Fig. 1 theframe is represented as fully extended, covering the entire body of thewagon. The covering L is shown-as rolled or thrown up over the top ofthe frame, in order to show said frame and its severaljoint-connections. The many purposes for which a wagon thus covered maybe available need not be specified.

Fig. 3 represents the front part of the frame closed or drawn back,while the rear part remains extended. To effect this change in theframe, the front bow H is lifted from the staples and the ends carriedback to the diagonal braces, to which it may be made fast by drawing thecorners of the covering L in around it, and securing it on the inside byeyelets and pins, or by any other suitable means. This condition of theframe gives open and free access to the wagon from the sides, while theback part may be closed in by the covering and the curtain M.

Fig. 4 represents the frame as pushed back on each side of the middlebow, thereby giving access to both ends of the wagon from the sides,while the seat remains covered. That part of the frame back of the bow Bmay be entirely removed by withdrawing the pivotal pin 1), therebydetaching the diagonal brace and the bows G, I, and J from the rest partof the frame, leaving the frame in the condition shown in Fig. 5,forming a calash-top for the carriage or buggy.

Afurther change of the frame can be effected, wherebyit is made stilllighter. To this end the diagonal braces are detached, and the two bowsJ and I are pivoted to the frame-bow H. The ends of said bow H are thendrawn back and attached to the middle bow, as were attached the braces.This change dispenses with the diagonal braces, as shown in-Fig. 7,which, for a single or calash top, will be sufficient in strength andlighter than that shown in Fig. 5, in which the diagonal braces areallowed to remain. a The several changes made above specified arereadily and easily efl'ected, requiring but a short time to accomplish,which, as will be seen, renders the frame easily adaptable to thecovering of the entire body of the vehicle, or.v

partially so, as the practical use of the same may require.

By inserting the ends of the bow B in the staples at the rear end of thewagon-box, and the ends of the front bow in the staples at the middle ofthebox, one-halfof the frame will project over the rear end of thewagon, thereby forming an awning, under which a market-man can exhibithis articles for sale, protecting both himself and customers from sunand rain.

The covering for the frame, as above said, may be secured thereto by anysuitable means viz., straps and buckles, or by eyelets and pins.

Fig. 8 represents a View of the covering spread out and provided witheyelet-holes, whereby to attach it to the frame.

The several adjustments of the frame may "be retainedin position byhooks and eyes, or

by straps buckled around the frame, as experience may suggest.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isg 1. In combination with the detached bow B andbows G and H, thediagonal braces E, hinged or pivoted to each other, substantially asdescribed, and for the purpose specified.

2.- In combination with the bows B, G, and H and diagonal braces E, theintermediate bows I and J and stretcher K, arranged to operate, inrelation to each other, substantially as described, and for the purposeset forth.

3. In combination with a wagon or other vehicle, the herein-describedframe, consistingof the bows B G H, diagonal braces E, bows I and J,pivoted to each other, and stretcher, all arranged to operatesubstantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

ROBERT W. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

J. H. BURRIDGE, W. H. BURRIDGE.

